Monthly Archives: February 2016

It is often necessary to use barricades and barriers in different situations. They can be used to prevent access to restricted areas or to ensure that vehicular and pedestrian traffic moves in specific directions.

Often we see barricades being used to cordon off construction sites. In such cases crowd concrete barriers are used to promote safety and to ensure that visitors do not inadvertently move into risky areas. Also, when a special event takes place – say for a public meeting or sports meet – it becomes necessary to use barriers to ensure that the traffic moves in the right direction. In the absence of such barricades, an ugly traffic jam could result very quickly.

We have seen some examples of barriers being used as temporary measures. Similarly, on highways, there is often construction work going on, and it becomes necessary to cordon off a part of the highway to direct or restrict traffic. In such cases, highway concrete barriers are used for great effect. These measures can be temporary and the barricades can be removed as soon as the event is over, or the construction work is complete. Even on a regular or ongoing basis, people often use barriers to block access to certain areas. Barricades are also used to great effect as road dividers, and this can be for a long term.

There are several other uses to which concrete barriers have been put. For example, they can be used to block or stop out of control vehicles, or vehicles which are being chased. A barrier strategically placed in the path of the vehicle can bring the vehicle to a stop. These barriers can also be used to shore up sand piles or piles of debris.

Jersey barriers, as they are commonly called have also been used to great effect as noise control agents, particularly in construction sites. In a construction site, noise is a part of the scheme of things. If these barriers are placed strategically around the noise pollution area, they tend to absorb much of the noise and thus act as sound control agents.

These barriers have their origin in the construction industry and are produced in many different designs to suit specific requirements. However, their use has spread out much wider than just the construction industry, into many different areas of life. Construction barriers are indeed a great boon to many industries and businesses.

Are you remodeling or building a new house? Let us show you how to install interior doors in your home or office.

There are different ways to install doors whether you are hanging them above carpet or hardwood flooring. There is a difference!

Let us assume you are installing the doors over hard wood flooring.

List of Tools:

Level
Electric Drill
Hammer
Tape Measure
Chop Saw
Caulking Gun

Material List:

Doors
Door Shims
Screws
Nails
Passage Sets
Putty/DAP

Tips on how to install the Doors:

Make certain that the door swings away from the light switch.

Fasten the hinge side of the Door Jam by removing one screw from the hinges and reinstalling a longer screw which will fasten it into the 2×4. Do this with all 3 hinges, one screw only. Make certain that it is flush with the drywall on both sides.

Check whether it is plumb to the opening. Also ensure that the top of the door is level. Close the door to ensure that the spacing of the door and the Door Jam are equal all around.

On the opposite side install the Shims between the Door Jam and the 2×4. Now place the first shim about 3″ from the floor and nail it into place. The second one should be where the Strike Plate will be. And the third one at the top corner. Now ensure that everything is flush with the drywall and nailed into place. Once this is completed, install the trim around it.

Installing the Trim:

Determine whether you want a flush or an off-set finish. If an off-set finish, it should be about 1/8th – 1/4″ depending on your preference. Once you have determined which measurement you would like to use, measure from the floor up to the point that you chose. Now cut a 45-degree angle from the short to the long corner. The short corner is where you first marked the Trim. Make a mirror cut for the opposite side and install these two pieces. To determine the length of the top piece, hook the tape over the trim and measure across. This will give you the measurement from long to long point. Next cut and install it into place! Follow the same procedure on the other side of the door. These three pieces will have a different length then the first side, so make sure to re-measure.

Fill any gaps and nail holes with DAP. Once you have applied it, take a damp rag to wipe away any extra for a clean surface.

Everyone is looking for a cleaner way to produce energy. Solar electric systems are, arguably, the cleanest form of energy production available. However, not everyone understands how the sun’s light is captured and turned into energy.

What is Solar Power?

In general terms, it is the conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaics. The photovoltaic modules are simple and durable. There are no moving parts.

The photovoltaic array sits in sunlight, acting as an energy collector and generator. When the light hits the panels, the cells absorb some of the photons. The energy is transferred to an electron located within the semiconductor material. With the photons, the electron can escape its position within the semiconductor and become part of the electrical current.

What Is A Solar Electric System Made From?

Most photovoltaic cells are made from one of two basic designs: thin-film or crystalline silicon. Thin-film actually covers several different designs, including amorphous silicon, copper indium gallium diselenide, and cadmium telluride.

Crystalline silicon modules are fashioned into either multicrystalline ribbon, or monocrystalline silicone. They are also used in more than 80 percent of the current marketplace. However, the thin-film design is the most common in research and development.

In addition to the photovoltaic cells, you will also need other components to make up the array. This includes batteries, charge controllers, and inverters. These components vary depending on what type of system is in use.

What Types of Systems Are Out There?

When choosing a solar electric setup for your home, you have four main designs from which to choose. The first type is the PV-Direct system. This is the simplest design available. The PV-Direct has the fewest components: only the array and the load. There are no batteries, and it does not hook directly to the utility. This array only powers loads when the sun is shining, so it is only appropriate for applications such as water pumping and ventilation.

Off-grid systems are great for remote locations without utility service. However, you can use this power array just about anywhere. The design allows you to operate all your household’s electrical needs without having to be connected to the city grid. This array is a little more complicated. It must have a battery bank to store the electricity for nighttime and cloudy day use. The bank must also have a charge controller to protect it from overcharge and an inverter to convert the DC power to AC for use with AC household appliances. Users should also have disconnects, monitoring equipment, and electrical safety gear.

Grid-tied systems with battery backups are very similar to off-grid setups. However, the home or business is still connected to the city’s utility grid, reducing the dependence on the panels to provide all the energy. This setup still needs a battery bank, converters, and safety equipment.

Batteryless grid-tied systems are the most common on-grid solar electric array. These setups consist of a simple setup with a photovoltaic array, inverters, and electrical safety equipment. Most of the energy consumed during the day will come from the sunlight; however, with no battery backup, the grid-tie array will not work if the utility grid fails.

When thinking of changes that need to be made to our homes to make them more attractive and convenient, it is easy to overlook the importance of the ground beneath our feet. Despite the fact that we use it every single day, it is easy to forget the impact of our floors on our lives. The type of flooring we use affects many aspects of daily life, from the everyday cleaning that is built into our routines to our choices in décor. Therefore it is worth considering when making small upgrades to a household, since it allows a whole new avenue of design and comfort.

One of the main advantages that wood tiling has over its alternatives is the fact that it adds a nice nostalgic look to any room. Choosing décor for your house is one of the easiest ways to express your creativity and add a unique spin on how you are represented to house guests, and other forms of flooring wind up hindering the aesthetic choices you can make. Wood flooring is able to become a form of décor itself, depending on the grain and texture, allowing it to be another choice in choosing the style of the room it is in.

Another advantage of wood floors is their increased durability over their competitors. Other forms of flooring can stain and even after a few years need replacement, yet wood floors are built out of naturally strong wood that is reinforced with a light finishing that allows them to last for years on end. Due to the simple nature of their components, they are also extremely easy to clean and repair, making them much less of a hassle then other conventional floors. Due to their hard surface not attracting as many allergens, for people with sensitivities to pollen or dander they are a great way to help cut back on their negative effects.

For people who are concerned with the environment and their carbon footprint, wood floors are also the best option. Other modern flooring is made of non-renewable resources that require regular replacement in order to look presentable, while wooden floors are made from regularly replanted trees with as little negative chemical impact as possible. Since wood tiling is so able to be replenished and maintained with very little outside involvement, they are the most natural and healthy choice to make.

So next time you are looking for little ways to improve your life, it is probably a good idea to think about changing your flooring, since it can make a huge impact. Whether you want to simply have easy clean up, use it as an aesthetic piece of your house or reduce your environmental impact, wood floors provide all of that while being a long lasting investment.